saving. But mylimited knowledge crippled me. According to Ian, every time a Morai opened his mouth, a lie came out. And there were rules I didn’t quite understand about the djinn killing humans. They couldn’t do it directly, which was why the Morai had used humans to slaughter the rest of Ian’s descendants. They could kill in self-defense—but only when they were in animal form.
Finally, I decided to take the risk and communicate. He wasn’t a snake right now, and I was pretty sure I could outrun him. Still, I wouldn’t let him see me yet.
“I take it you’re not a monk,” I said.
He looked startled for an instant. “Actually, I am,” he said slowly. “I was ordained in 1692.” He cleared his throat. “I never realized how disconcerting it is, speaking to someone who isn’t there. I hope I’m correct in assuming you’re djinn.”
“More or less.” I stayed invisible, not entirely convinced of his intentions. “Why couldn’t those guys sense me? And if you knew, why didn’t you tell them I was here?”
“For the same reason you can’t sense me. These grounds are my haven, and they’re protected from scrying spells. Though apparently they’re not safe from random djinn who happen to be wandering in the wilderness.” He frowned. “Who are you? Show yourself.”
“In a minute.” Haven? Who could a full-blooded djinn need protection from? The answer came like a kick in the teeth. Ian. And by extension, me. Feeling a touch queasy, I said, “Why didn’t you turn me over to those bast—er, guys?” I couldn’t bring myself to swear in front of a monk, even if he was a Morai.
“They seemed intent on shedding blood. I don’t allow that here.”
“Well, that’s reassuring.” I held back a sigh. If Ian knew I was standing here chatting with a Morai, he’d probablykick my ass. “All right. Here, I’m showing.” I dropped the vanishing act.
The monk twitched. He paled a few shades. “You’re human.”
“Not exactly.” I grimaced. He’d made human sound like a dirty word. “I’m—”
“I know who you are.” His voice grew hoarse. “You’re the thief Donatti. The slayer’s apprentice.”
My throat clenched tight. He knew my name, and apparently I’d acquired a title somewhere along the way. Not one I liked much either.
“The prince. Is he here with you?”
“He is indeed, snake.”
Ian’s voice came from the alcove behind the Morai. The monk whirled and held up a defensive hand. “Wait. Rayan, please listen—”
But Ian had already launched into a spell. The lockdown hit the monk in midsentence, and he stiffened and toppled to the ground.
“Jesus … creepers, Ian!” I shook myself loose and strode toward the building. “How long have you been standing there?”
Ian flickered into sight and regarded me with raised eyebrows. “Creepers?”
“Answer the question.”
He made a vague gesture. “I happened to glance out a window and saw the half-breeds approaching. I could not determine why I failed to sense them—though I know now. His wards prevent detection.” He glared down at the motionless Morai. “So I came to be sure you were safe. And found a snake in the grass.”
“Really. Well, great job keeping me safe. You didn’t do a … darn thing, except stand there and eavesdrop.”
“I would have acted, had it become necessary. You handled the situation well enough.” He gave me the look again. “Why are you speaking so strangely?”
“He’s a monk. You don’t curse around people of the cloth. Or djinn. Whatever.”
His curiosity shifted to rage. “Are you mad? This is no monk!” He drove a foot into the Morai’s ribs hard enough to flip him over.
“Ian!” I stepped between them before I could consider the consequences. “Stop it. He saved my ass. Probably yours too. The least you could do is hear him out.”
“I will not entertain the couched falsehoods of a Morai.” His eyes practically flashed fire. “If you do not plan to
Finally, I decided to take the risk and communicate. He wasn’t a snake right now, and I was pretty sure I could outrun him. Still, I wouldn’t let him see me yet.
“I take it you’re not a monk,” I said.
He looked startled for an instant. “Actually, I am,” he said slowly. “I was ordained in 1692.” He cleared his throat. “I never realized how disconcerting it is, speaking to someone who isn’t there. I hope I’m correct in assuming you’re djinn.”
“More or less.” I stayed invisible, not entirely convinced of his intentions. “Why couldn’t those guys sense me? And if you knew, why didn’t you tell them I was here?”
“For the same reason you can’t sense me. These grounds are my haven, and they’re protected from scrying spells. Though apparently they’re not safe from random djinn who happen to be wandering in the wilderness.” He frowned. “Who are you? Show yourself.”
“In a minute.” Haven? Who could a full-blooded djinn need protection from? The answer came like a kick in the teeth. Ian. And by extension, me. Feeling a touch queasy, I said, “Why didn’t you turn me over to those bast—er, guys?” I couldn’t bring myself to swear in front of a monk, even if he was a Morai.
“They seemed intent on shedding blood. I don’t allow that here.”
“Well, that’s reassuring.” I held back a sigh. If Ian knew I was standing here chatting with a Morai, he’d probablykick my ass. “All right. Here, I’m showing.” I dropped the vanishing act.
The monk twitched. He paled a few shades. “You’re human.”
“Not exactly.” I grimaced. He’d made human sound like a dirty word. “I’m—”
“I know who you are.” His voice grew hoarse. “You’re the thief Donatti. The slayer’s apprentice.”
My throat clenched tight. He knew my name, and apparently I’d acquired a title somewhere along the way. Not one I liked much either.
“The prince. Is he here with you?”
“He is indeed, snake.”
Ian’s voice came from the alcove behind the Morai. The monk whirled and held up a defensive hand. “Wait. Rayan, please listen—”
But Ian had already launched into a spell. The lockdown hit the monk in midsentence, and he stiffened and toppled to the ground.
“Jesus … creepers, Ian!” I shook myself loose and strode toward the building. “How long have you been standing there?”
Ian flickered into sight and regarded me with raised eyebrows. “Creepers?”
“Answer the question.”
He made a vague gesture. “I happened to glance out a window and saw the half-breeds approaching. I could not determine why I failed to sense them—though I know now. His wards prevent detection.” He glared down at the motionless Morai. “So I came to be sure you were safe. And found a snake in the grass.”
“Really. Well, great job keeping me safe. You didn’t do a … darn thing, except stand there and eavesdrop.”
“I would have acted, had it become necessary. You handled the situation well enough.” He gave me the look again. “Why are you speaking so strangely?”
“He’s a monk. You don’t curse around people of the cloth. Or djinn. Whatever.”
His curiosity shifted to rage. “Are you mad? This is no monk!” He drove a foot into the Morai’s ribs hard enough to flip him over.
“Ian!” I stepped between them before I could consider the consequences. “Stop it. He saved my ass. Probably yours too. The least you could do is hear him out.”
“I will not entertain the couched falsehoods of a Morai.” His eyes practically flashed fire. “If you do not plan to
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